Moon Chosen

by P. C. Cast

  “By right of blood and birth channel through me

  That which the Earth Mother proclaims my destiny!”

  For the rest of his life, Nik would be able to conjure the image of Mari, hand and face lifted to the moon, eyes blazing silver. She seemed to become a beacon for the moonlight as it poured down on her, suddenly illuminating Mari and, through their nearness, O’Bryan and even Nik. He felt his cousin’s body jerk, as if she’d shot something into him. It touched Nik, too. He felt the cool power of it, as if he’d paddled too close to a waterfall. The wound in his back that had been throbbing with an ache in time with his heartbeat, especially after he’d carried O’Bryan, was suddenly gone. The pain in his thigh—the constant heat and pulling—released.

  And suddenly Nik realized O’Bryan was no longer writhing with seizures. His body had gone completely limp. Instead of struggling for breath, he was breathing deeply and evenly. Actually, he seemed to be asleep.

  Nik couldn’t stop looking at Mari. Spotlighted by moonlight she was a goddess come to earth—powerful, alluring, and mysterious.

  She moved then, turning her face from the sky to look at him. As he watched, the silver fire in her eyes faded until they returned to her normal gray again, but the joy didn’t leave her face.

  “I did it!” she said. “I drew down the moon!” She shook her head, and a little laugh bubbled from her. “I wasn’t sure I could do it, but I did. He’s healed, Nik. O’Bryan is going to be just fine now.”

  “What are you?” Nik asked in a hushed, reverent voice.

  Mari smiled. “Like you said, it’s just me.”

  “No, you’re so much more than just anything. You’re—”

  O’Bryan coughed, spitting out the stick and wiping his mouth. He blinked several times, and then focused on Nik. “Cuz? Where am I?”

  Joy blossomed inside Nik and he grinned at his cousin through happy tears. “You’re with Mari and me. You’re going to be okay now, O’Bryan. You’re going to live!”

  O’Bryan’s forehead furrowed as he glanced around them, finding Mari kneeling next to his leg, her hand still resting on his calf.

  He smiled tentatively at her. “Hi. I’ve heard a lot about you. It’s good to meet you, girl on fire.”

  Mari dimpled. “Nice to meet you, too, O’Bryan. Let’s take a quick look at this.” With dexterity, she unwound the bandage and Nik stared in wonder at O’Bryan’s leg. It was still swollen, but the striations were already fading. Mari removed the hemp wrap holding the poultice securely on the wound, and Nik gasped.

  “The ulcers are completely gone!” he said.

  “So is that terrible smell,” Mari said. “I’m really glad that goes away fast.”

  O’Bryan used Nik to help brace himself, then he sat up, peering at his leg. When he looked at Mari, tears were streaming down his cheeks.

  “How is this possible?”

  “Moon magick and Nik refusing to take no for an answer,” Mari said simply as she rebandaged the injury.

  O’Bryan reached out and took her hand. “I owe you my life.”

  “Then make it count. Be kind. Be truthful. And most of all, don’t ever harm an Earth Walker.”

  “You have my word on that,” O’Bryan said. Then he grinned, looking like his old self. “Nik didn’t tell me you were so pretty.”

  Nik watched Mari’s cheeks flush pink. Then Rigel padded up to them, sticking his nose in O’Bryan’s face and making them laugh.

  “It’s the pup! It’s so good to see him.”

  “His name is Rigel,” Mari said, shooing him away gently. She met Nik’s eyes. “You should carry him back now. He’s going to need a lot of rest.”

  “Carry me? In front of a girl as pretty as you? I’m not dead enough to be okay with that—or at least now I’m not. Help me up, Nik.”

  “Cuz, I don’t think—”

  “Well, I know you don’t always think, but maybe you should keep Mari from knowing that for at least a little while longer,” O’Bryan teased, which made Mari laugh softly.

  Nik sent his cousin an exaggerated scowl, but his heart was filled with happiness. “Fine. It’s your leg and your pain. You know if you fall down those stairs and break it I’ll just have to carry you back up here—in front of Mari—so she can fix you up again.”

  “Stop being such a worrier!” O’Bryan said.

  He and Mari together helped O’Bryan stand, and then, leaning heavily on Nik and moving slowly and carefully, they descended the stairs with Mari and Rigel following them.

  “O’Bryan! By the Sun’s glory, you’re alive!” Sol rushed to them, enfolding O’Bryan in a hug.

  They stood there like that, Nik, his father, and his beloved cousin, linked through touch and love and gratitude, because of a girl who shouldn’t have been born. As he gazed at Mari, Nik felt his world shift, expand, and change irrevocably.

  “He needs to lie down,” Mari said quietly, breaking the spell that surrounded the four of them.

  “Of course—of course,” Sol said. “I’ll lead, just like on the way here.”

  Nik nodded and told O’Bryan quickly, “We snuck Mari in. We didn’t have time to answer Tribe questions. It was too close with you.”

  “Bloody beetle balls, I almost died, didn’t I!”

  Nik shook his head at O’Bryan’s excited tone. He and Mari exchanged a look, and she rolled her eyes.

  “Yes, you almost died. Nik really should carry you back,” Mari said.

  “As usual, Mari’s right,” Nik said.

  O’Bryan snorted. “No chance of that, Cuz.”

  “The three of you stop chattering and follow me,” Sol said.

  Barely suppressing relieved laughter, the three of them did as Sol commanded.

  None of them noticed the figure in the shadows who slowly, stealthily, followed, too.

  * * *

  Mari made sure the hood of her cloak was pulled securely around her face and Rigel stayed close to her and quiet, but she couldn’t help feeling light and almost giddy with happiness as she waited in a shadowy alcove outside the Transition nest for Nik, Sol, and Maeve to resituate O’Bryan within. The Tribe’s Healer hadn’t returned, but the consensus was that she would be making rounds soon, so Mari waited outside. And she did so happily. The city in the trees fascinated her. She wished it was day, and she could see everything—explore everything. For just that moment Mari allowed herself to imagine what it would be like to live in the sky among such beauty—to be accepted as Leader and to have a life that wasn’t filled with struggle and Night Fever. She thought about Nik’s eyes on her as she’d danced her name and drawn down the moon. It had seemed as if he’d looked within her and glimpsed her spirit.

  The wind, which had picked up noticeably, whipped around Mari, making her shiver even as she enjoyed the sounds of the Tribe’s chimes and bells tinkling in time with the elements.

  Then, along with the delicate, windblown music, Mari heard another sound. She felt Rigel stir where he sat beside her, cocking his head as he, too, listened.

  It was a woman crying. Mari was sure of it.

  Rigel stood, took a few hesitant steps, and then looked back at Mari expectantly.

  “Rigel, do not go anywhere!” she whispered sternly.

  He whined plaintively, then jogged around the Transition nest.

  “Rigel!” Mari’s whisper sounded more like a hiss as she hurried after him.

  Rounding the side of the Transition nest, Mari saw another, smaller, nest situated close by. Sitting just outside the entrance was a woman. Her face was in her hands and she was sobbing brokenly.

  Rigel went to her and touched her with his muzzle. The woman jerked in surprise and then lifted her grief-ravaged face.

  “Who are you?” she said, her voice thick with tears. “Wait, I know who you are…”

  Mari hesitated, not sure whether she should step forward, or run back to the Transition nest for Nik. Thankfully, a strong hand touched her shoulder and Nik said, “I’ll get him. D
on’t worry. Stay here.”

  Nik strode toward the woman and Rigel. Mari moved as close as the shadow would let her, listening intently.

  The woman looked up at him, wiping at her eyes. “Nik! Isn’t this Laru’s pup? The one you’ve been looking for all this time?”

  “Hi, Sheena. Yes, it is the pup,” he said. Mari watched him hesitate, obviously searching for an explanation he could tell her, but Nik didn’t need one. Instead of questioning him further, the woman began crying again with shoulder-shaking, body-wracking sobs. Nik sat beside her and put his arm comfortingly around her.

  “I’m sorry, Nik. I’m sorry. It’s Captain—he’s failing. He won’t fight. It’s like his heart was broken along with his leg. He wants to follow Crystal and Grace. I can feel it. I can’t blame him for that. I want to follow them, too.”

  “No, don’t say that, Sheena. Shepherds are resilient, but you have to be strong for him.”

  The woman shook her head. “I’ve tried, but he’s in so much pain. His leg—it’s infected. He’s dying, Nik.”

  Rigel slipped out from underneath Nik’s hand and galloped to Mari. Sitting in front of her, he whined and gave a little encouraging bark. Mari looked into his amber eyes and felt his urgency and his confidence in her.

  “Okay,” she told him. “But I hope you know what you’re doing.”

  Mari left the concealing shadows and went to Nik and the sobbing, broken Sheena.

  “I can help,” Mari said.

  “Who are you?” Sheena asked.

  “My friend,” Nik said. “And the pup’s Companion. She’s also a Healer.”

  Sheena shook her head. “The Healers have given up. They say there’s nothing they can do.”

  “Can you help him?” Nik said.

  “Rigel seems to think I can,” Mari said. “May I try?” she asked Sheena.

  “Yes. Just don’t do anything that will cause him more pain.”

  “I won’t. I promise,” Mari said.

  Sheena went inside the little nest. Mari, Nik, and Rigel followed. Near the hearth on a thick pallet was a big male Shepherd. His front right leg was splinted and swathed in bandages. Sheena knelt beside his head, stroking him and murmuring his name. The Shepherd opened his eyes, moved his muzzle so that it rested against his Companion, and then he closed them again.

  “May I touch him?” Mari asked.

  Sheena nodded, wiping at the tears that continued to flow down her cheeks.

  Mari crouched beside the big canine. She ran her hands over him lightly, feeling the unnatural heat that radiated from his infection-ravaged body. Even through the splint and bandages, she could see how much his leg was swollen, though he didn’t seem to be injured anywhere else.

  “Is it just his leg?” she asked Sheena.

  “That and his heart,” Sheena said softly, still stroking him.

  “Sheena’s mate, Crystal, and her Shepherd, Grace, were killed the day the Skin Stealers ambushed us,” Nik explained.

  “I’m so sorry,” Mari said.

  Sheena just nodded, never taking her gaze from Captain’s face.

  “Can you help him?” Nik asked.

  “Yes,” Mari said.

  “Do you need me to carry him outside?” Nik asked.

  Sheena began to protest, but Mari smiled and touched her arm gently. “It’s okay. Nik doesn’t need to take him anywhere, but I do need a moment alone with your Captain. I give you my word I will only help. I will not cause him any pain.”

  Sheena looked from Mari to Nik to Rigel, and then back to Nik.

  “You can trust her,” Nik said.

  Sheena blew out a long breath, her shoulders slumping miserably. “I could use a mug of ale. I’ll go get one.” She bent and kissed Captain’s muzzle, whispering, “I’ll be right back. I love you.” Moving slowly and stiffly, like a woman thrice her age, Sheena stood and shuffled from the nest.

  “You really don’t need me to carry him up to Father’s platform for you? I will, you know, even though it’ll be hard on him.”

  Mari smiled at Nik. “Usually, when I draw down the moon I am only a conduit for its power. It goes through me, but doesn’t stay with me. Tonight I had, well, I’m going to call it a premonition, and I saved some of the moonlight for myself, but now I know it wasn’t meant for me. It was meant for Captain.” She closed her eyes and rested both hands on the canine’s splinted leg. This time finding her center was easy, and once she was there she sketched a picture in her mind of her hands glowing and that glow spreading over Captain. Not just his leg, but all of him—his head, his body, and his heart—mostly his heart.

  When she felt him stir beneath her hands, Mari quickly added a smiling image of Sheena to her picture. Then she opened her eyes to see that the Shepherd had raised his head and was staring at her. Mari smiled. “Hello, Captain.”

  The big canine’s tail thumped—hesitantly at first, and then with more enthusiasm as Sheena entered the nest and rushed to his side. He greeted her, licking her face and trying to crawl onto her lap. Laughing and crying at the same time, Sheena hugged him, telling him how much she loved him and how strong and brave and wonderful he was.

  Quietly, Mari stood. Nik took her hand and they left the nest together. They paused outside. Filled with gratitude, Mari turned her face to where the moon peeked through the thick boughs of the tall, watchful trees. Nik stood beside her silently, still holding her hand.

  “Nik, Mari! There you are.” Sol rushed up to them. “What are you doing over here? You were supposed to stay—”

  “Wait, don’t go yet!”

  The three of them turned as Sheena rushed to Mari. She took her hands and held them tightly in hers. “Thank you isn’t enough. I can’t ever repay what you’ve done for me.”

  “What has happened?” Sol asked.

  Sheena turned her tear-stained face to Sol. “You know Captain was dying?”

  “Yes,” he said solemnly, pain shadowing his kind eyes. “I am so sorry, Sheena.” There was a rustling in the entryway to the nest behind them, drawing Sol’s gaze. Mari watched his eyes widen and she knew what she’d see before she turned her head to look.

  Captain was standing in the doorway. He swayed a little, but his eyes were bright and his mouth was open, tongue lolling, in a canine grin. Slowly, he limped to Sheena, leaning against her as she dropped Mari’s hands to crouch beside him and put her arms around him.

  “He’s walking!” Sol blurted. His gaze shot to Mari. “You did this?”

  “She did,” Sheena said. “Somehow she brought my Captain back, but she didn’t just heal his leg—she healed his heart, and by doing that healed mine as well.” Her gaze went back to Mari. “Who are you?”

  “She’s a miracle,” Sol said.

  “She’s a goddess,” Nik said.

  A tide of emotions washed through Mari, filling her to overflowing. When she spoke she heard her mother’s voice mixed with her own. “I’m not a miracle or a goddess. I’m a Moon Woman.”

  “What Tribe is that?” Sheena asked.

  “It’s complicated,” Nik and Sol said together.

  Then Sol turned to Mari, taking her hands much like Sheena had so recently done. “Thank you is not enough, though I heartily thank you—for my son’s life—for my nephew’s life—and now for the lives of two more precious members of our Tribe. If there is anything you need—anything you want—ask it of me, my dear. If it is within my power, I will give it to you.”

  Everything around Mari got very still, and within that stillness she knew what she must ask for. In a voice that echoed with the authority of generations of Moon Women, Mari said, “What I want is for you to take me to Farm Island.”

  47

  “No, Mari!” Nik grabbed her by the shoulders, forcing Mari to look into his eyes. “I don’t care what you say, I won’t let you go there. I won’t let you turn into a sad ghost of yourself.”

  Mari put her hands over his. “That won’t happen to me. It can’t. I’m a Moon Woman, Nik. It’
s different for me.”

  “Why do you want to go there?” Sol asked.

  Mari turned to him. “I can help my people.”

  “I won’t let you stay there,” Nik insisted.

  Mari held Sol’s gaze as she answered Nik. “That’s not your decision to make. It’s mine.”

  “Actually, it’s mine,” Sol said.

  “Not if your word is good,” Mari said. “You just offered to give me anything I wanted that’s in your power to give.”

  “It is in my power to take you to Farm Island. It is even in my power to allow you to stay there, should that be your desire. It is not in my power to speak for the Tribe and release the Earth Walkers. That I cannot do.”

  “I’m not asking you to release my people. I’m also not asking you to lock me up with them.”

  “Then what are you going to do?” Nik asked.

  “The right thing. I’m going to heal my people, just as I healed you, Nik, and O’Bryan, and Sheena and her Captain. Sol, will you take me to Farm Island or not?”

  There was a long pause as Sol studied his son. Then, with a deep sigh, he said to Mari, “I will take you there.”

  “Not without me you won’t,” Nik said.

  Mari glanced up at the sky. “We need to hurry. The moon is waning.”

  “It’s late enough that few of the Tribe will be stirring. Pull up your hood and stay close. We’ll use the lift closest to the edge of the ridge,” Sol said.

  Mari nodded, pulled up her hood, and hurried after Sol with Nik close beside her.

  * * *

  Thaddeus waited until Sheena and Captain had gone back inside the nest before, quick as a Terrier, he sprinted away. His mind was reeling with what he’d just witnessed. He’d always known there was something about Nik that he hated, something besides the fact that everything came too easily for him. Well, he corrected himself smugly as he sent a self-satisfied look to the canine by his side, everything except the ability to get a canine to choose him. Though it seems he might have done that—in a twisted, perverse version of how a true Companion was chosen.